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Students & Parents FAQ

Frequently asked questions

If your questions are not answered here, you can submit your questions to the Coronavirus question form.


Q: Who should get tested for COVID-19?

A: See the guidelines set forth by the CDC and PA Department of Health to see if you should be tested.  Call your primary care provider or the Department of Health in your state if you are experiencing symptoms.  

The Center for Wellness is happy to assist you by phone for any reason. Call for an appointment at 814 393 2121.

Q: Students and employees are asked to practice strict social distancing. What does that mean?

  • No large face-to-face meetings should take place.
  • Through the duration of spring 2020, semester, all instruction will continue to be delivered remotely ONLY.
  • The university remains open; however, most campus services will be suspended,  significantly reduced or offered remotely. 

Q: Is academic support available to help me transition to online or remote classes?

A: Yes. Contact Ron Radaker at rradaker@clarion.edu or link to resources at Center for Access, Success and Achievement.

Q: Is IT support available to help with connectivity or computer issues?

A: Contact the Computer Services Help Desk at techsupport@pennwest.edu or 814 393 2640.

Q: Will Reinhard Villages, Venango Apartments and my residence hall still be open?

A: Based on the concept of social distancing and recommendations of PASSHE and the governor of Pennsylvania, Reinhard Villages, Suites on Main North and South, Valley View and Campus View Suites will close, and those students will be sent home. Students need to leave by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22. Exceptions can be made for emergency circumstances (e.g. financial hardship, homelessness, international students, or other reasons) by applying for an exception at www.clarion.edu/housing. These requests must be submitted for review by 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 18.

For students living in the apartments on the Venango campus please contact Bob Murray at 814 677 2326 or bob@rlmurray.com.

Q: Can I expect a refund on housing, dining and fees?

A: Yes. View our student refund information.

Q: What should I take with me when I leave?

A: Plan to take all of your items. If you cannot take them all now, email reslife@clarion.edu to make an appointment to retrieve them at a later date. 

Q: Can I still get my mail?

A: The Gemmell Mailroom is currently closed.  All students who lived in Campus View, Valley View or Suites on Main North/South should forward their mail to a permanent mailing address.  Mail Service for Reinhard Villages will be available this week but will stop at 5:00 PM on Sunday, March 22nd when all residential students have checked out of housing.  Unclaimed mail and packages will be returned to sender as undeliverable.

Q: I have a student worker job on campus. Should I report to work?

A: No. Students should not report to work until further notice, but they will continue to be paid. Students should enter hours worked through today, March 16, into the student payroll system. After today, the human resources office will use the average weekly hours worked by each student to pay them for remaining pay periods. Contact your direct supervisor if you have questions.

Q: What is happening with athletic competitions and practices?

A: The NCAA has canceled Division I and Division II winter and spring NCAA championships, including wrestling. The PSAC and its member institutions suspended all athletic competition for the remainder of the spring semester.  Additionally, practices and other related activities have been suspended for all sports until further notice. Athletes having specific questions should contact their coach.

Q: Will graduation be held as scheduled in May?

A: Clarion University, like most higher education institutions, has moved to remote education only for the remainder of the semester.  I want to first assure you that students who are eligible to graduate this spring will still graduate.

Read the latest update for Commencement

Questions related to obtaining your transcripts please visit the Registrar's webpage at www.clarion.edu/transcript.

Q: I’m involved in off-campus experiential learning (clinicals/student teaching/internships/externships/co-ops). Should I still report to my site?

A: No. Until further notice, do not report to your site. Your instructor will contact you regarding details.

Q: Will the libraries remain open?

A: Carlson and Suhr libraries will be remote access only. Library faculty are available for virtual or telephone consultation and other library services are available virtually while classes are online.

Q: Can I access any academic buildings?

A: Student access to academic buildings will be suspended until further notice.

Q: If I’m sick or need counseling, can I go to the Wellness Center?

A: All health services will be delivered remotely. If you are feeling ill or need counseling, call 814 393 2121.

Q: Will Student Financial Services be open?

A: Student Financial Services will be available via remote access or phone at 814 393 2315.

Q: Is Gemmell open?

A: No. Gemmell will be unavailable to students and the public. Services will be suspended until further notice.

Q: Can I still access the Gemmell Resource Room?

A: The Gemmell Resource Room will be accessible to students by appointment only. Please call 814 393 2031 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Q: Is Eagle Commons still open?

A: We are providing limited meals to those students that identified they will need them.  Meals are carry-out only with limited food options.  If you have any questions, please email reslife@clarion.edu.

Q: Will the Student Recreation Center be open?

A: Services at the Student Recreation Center are suspended until further notice.

Q: I’m a Venango campus student. Will Rhoades Hall be open?

A: All student services in Rhoades Hall are suspended until further notice.

Q: Is Starbucks going to be open?

A: Starbucks will suspend services as of Tuesday, March 17.

Q: How can my student organization still conduct its business?

A: Student organizations should suspend in-person meetings and may engage in virtual meetings.  Contact the director of student engagement & development at mshaffer@clarion.edu for ideas on how to do this.

Q: How do I return my textbook rentals?

A: 

  1. Visit the Clarion Store website: www.bkstr.com/clarionstore and log in.
  2. Click the My Account link found at the top right bar of the screen.
  3. Select the button in the Rentals box under Purchase Details
  4. Check the box next to each rental to be checked-in or select the Return All Rentals by Mail link. 
  5. Select the CHECK-IN button. The Return By Mail screen displays
  6. Select Continue and the Generate Your Return Label screen will display.
  7. Select Get Label
  8. Select Print, then Close Window. A packing slip and package label are printed.
  9. Affix the shipping label to the outside of the package containing your rental books and place the packing list inside the box. Drop off the package at any FedEx Ground location. 
Important: Packing list must be included to ensure proper processing of your rental items.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the process please contact Laura Loeb, Clarion Store Manager, at lloeb@clarion.edu.

Q: Will bus service still be available?

A: Clarion bus service will continue to be provided, but on a modified schedule, accessible at www.RideATA.com. No changes to the Venango bus service have been announced; the schedule is available at https://www.co.venango.pa.us/579/Transportation.

Q: What if I decide to drop all my classes entirely for the remainder of the semester?

A: If you choose to withdraw from Clarion and/or drop all of your classes, you may be required to return a portion of your federal financial aid disbursement to the U.S. Department of Education. This process is called Return to Title IV aid (R2T4) and is a federally mandated policy that Clarion must follow. Before you make any decision regarding this, please contact the Student Financial Services to understand the financial impact that decision would have.  If the decision has been made to withdraw from Clarion, the Semester/University Withdrawal Form is to be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office via email registrar@clarion.edu.

Q: Why do some rooms have signs indicating they were disinfected and the date?

A: The university custodial staff is doing heavy cleaning of areas that are unoccupied now, such as, but not limited to, classrooms. When the work is completed, a notice is posted on the door indicating it has been cleaned the room as been cleaned and the date the cleaning was completed.  The door to the room will then be locked to ensure the space remains clean until normal operations resume.

Q: What should someone who has been tested for COVID-19 do?

After getting tested for COVID-19, you will receive your results from your healthcare provider anywhere between one to seven days after testing. This time may take longer depending on the testing volume and the laboratory doing the testing. While you are waiting, use this form to make a list of your contacts.

 Q: What should I do while I wait for my results?

  • Self-isolate to your home.
  • If you live with others, self-isolate in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible.
  • Whoever else lives in your home should also stay at home.
  • Make a list of close contacts you have had from two days before you became sick until you isolated. Close contacts are people who have been within 6 feet of you for a period of 10 minutes or more.
  • Wear a mask when you enter general living areas. Interact with others as little as possible.
  • If you develop additional symptoms or if your symptoms get worse, notify your healthcare provider for instructions.

Q: What should I do if I test positive?

  • Notify your close contacts and let them know they should quarantine at home for 14 days. This includes your family members.
  • Self-isolate in your home until each of the following conditions are met:
  1. It has been at least seven days since your symptoms first appeared AND
  2. It has been at least three days since you have not had a fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and your respiratory symptoms are improving (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).
    • If your symptoms get worse or if you require hospitalization, notify your healthcare provider immediately and follow instructions about wearing a mask when you arrive to the facility.
    • If you do not need hospitalization, continue to self-isolate at home.

Q: What do I do if my test is negative?

  • If you had a known exposure to a confirmed case, continue to quarantine until 14 days after your exposure.
  • If you were tested but had no known exposure to a confirmed case, and you are asymptomatic, you can stop your self-quarantine.
  • If you were tested but had no known exposure to a confirmed case, and you are symptomatic, you may have another respiratory pathogen that is circulating in the community. Avoid work and group settings until three days after the last day of your respiratory symptoms and fever.

Q: What should I do if I was potentially exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

A: If you think you have been exposed to someone with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, follow the steps below to monitor your health to avoid spreading the disease to others if you get sick.

Q: What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

A: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new virus called SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Most people with COVID-19 will have mild disease but some people will get sicker and may need to be hospitalized.

Q: How do I know if I was exposed?

A: You generally need to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:

  • Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19,
  • Caring for a sick person with COVID-19,
  • Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, OR
  • Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).

If you have not been in close contact with a sick person with COVID-19, you are at low risk for infection, but should monitor your health for 14 days and stay away from others if you get sick.

Q: What should I do if I was in close contact with someone with COVID-19 while they were ill but I am not sick?

A: You should monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school, and should avoid public places for 14 days.

Q: What should I do if I am a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and get sick?

A: If you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are very mild), you likely have COVID-19. You should isolate yourself at home and away from other people. If you have any of the following conditions that may increase your risk for a serious infection—age 60 years or older, are pregnant, or have medical conditions—contact your physician’s office and tell them that you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19.

If you do not have a high-risk condition but want medical advice, call your healthcare provider and tell them you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if you need to be evaluated in person. There are currently no medications to treat COVID-19. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you may have been exposed to COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive or immediately after they arrive.

Q: If I am under home isolation or quarantine, when is it safe for me to discontinue this procedure?

Individuals with COVID-19 under home isolation:

Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue home isolation under the following conditions:

  • At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);

AND,

  • At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

For example, if day 0 is the onset of illness, persons with COVID-19 that are afebrile and have no respiratory symptoms as of day 3 must remain isolated until day 7. Someone with COVID-19 who still has a fever or respiratory symptoms until day 10 cannot be released until day 13.

Individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had ANY symptoms may discontinue home isolation when at least 7 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test and have had no subsequent illness.

Household contacts of persons with COVID-19:

Because exposure is considered to be ongoing within the house, household contacts of persons with COVID-19 must be quarantined for 14 days after the case has been released from isolation. This means that household contacts will need to remain at home longer than the initial case. 

For non-household contacts of persons with COVID-19:

 People who had close contact* with a person with COVID-19 must be quarantined for 14 days from the date of last contact with the person with COVID-19. 

 If someone had close contact* with a COVID-19 case prior to the case becoming symptomatic, there was no exposure and no quarantine is necessary. 

* Close contact is defined as: 

  • Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case

– OR –

  • Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)

4/16/2020 Student Affairs webinar

Last Updated 5/5/22